$200,000 in Scholarships Recently Awarded to Local Students

John Juracko was a retired 1st Sergeant in the U. S. Marine Corps who called East Jordan home after years of active duty abroad.  Each year a $1,000 scholarship is awarded to an area student in his name.  This month the Charlevoix County Community Foundation awarded 130 scholarships worth $210,000 to area graduates from the First Sergeant John D. Juracko Scholarship Fund and others like it.  These scholarship funds have been established by local citizens or groups to honor family members, civic leaders, educators and others who valued the benefits of a quality education.    

Each year the Community Foundation awards merit scholarships to outstanding local students entering the skilled trades, community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities. These students have demonstrated their eagerness to succeed beyond high school and have shown promise in their work ethic and in their academic achievement. In total, the Charlevoix County Community Foundation has awarded nearly $2.8 million in scholarships since 1992.

The Community Foundation holds more than 250 funds established by donors to make a difference here in Charlevoix County, 60 of which are designated for scholarships.  The Community Foundation serves as a charitable resource for the entire county, and has distributed grants and scholarships totaling nearly $24 million to benefit area residents.